It is disheartening to see the continued insult to the human intellect that is the notion that increased COVID-19 cases among the populace is a result of increased testing for the disease. This absurdity, which is easily disproven, is seemingly unable to be quashed as people are apparently unable or unwilling to address their confirmation bias in the mirror and say, enough. Allow me to demonstrate how ludicrously idiotic this statement is.
In Charleston County South Carolina, where I currently reside, there are roughly 411,406 residents. SC’s Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has confirmed via testing, that as of this date, 9,778 humans have contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus. We’ll set aside their estimate of how many Charlestonians have the disease who have yet to be tested, and just use the confirmed cases. How many humans would have COVID-19 in Charleston County today if DHEC had conducted zero tests? 9,778.
Let us now test every one of the 411,406 residents every week, with our current starting point of 9,778 cases. Next week, we test every resident and find 9,778 cases. How many humans currently have COVID-19? 9,778.
The following week, we again test every resident. We confirm 10,000 cases. Did cases increase or decrease? A basic understanding of numbers indicates that 10,000 is more than 9,778. Testing did not increase, as we tested every resident. What did increase? The number of sick people.
The following week, we again test every resident. We confirm 10,500 cases. Did cases increase or decrease? A basic understanding of numbers indicates that 10,500 is more than 10,000. Testing did not increase, as we tested every resident. What did increase? The number of sick people.
If we had not tested every resident; if we literally conducted zero tests, how many humans would have COVID-19? The same 10,500.
If we continued to test no one, if we didn’t bother finding out whether the disease was spreading in Charleston County, would no one be sick?
If we tested every resident and saw no increase in cases, would that be good, or bad?
I am under no illusion that people will stop using the nonsensical and embarrassing argument that there’s only more sick people because we’re checking to see if they’re sick. Wishful thinking is a basic, hardwired defense mechanism in the human brain. As I’m fond of saying, your brain is not your friend.
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